#TCL TV tips and tricks

[sakhi-nyc]

On Self Care and Remembering to Love Yourself

By Tahina Mukit

As we get older, we learn to prioritize. We buy planners, we make lists, and we set about ten alarms each day just to make sure we're on top of schedule. I know that I'm guilty of stretching myself too thin each year, mainly because I love to help and I can't say no! I didn't realize that I need to invest in taking care of myself until I started my first year at college. I was drinking red bulls, venti drinks from Starbucks, and depriving myself of sleep so that I could work on my assignments. My parents started to notice that the bags under my eyes were getting larger and that I just did not look like myself anymore. For myself, I noticed that drinking all of these energy drinks and feeding my body junk food really did not give me any energy at all. Instead I felt groggy, bloated, and just tired. So, I ditched the energy drinks and coffee for tea, made sure to get some sleep, and most importantly, told myself that I don't have to be a superhero to get all my work done! I made sure to surround myself with good food and good energy, especially from reliable friends. Making these changes in my daily routine truly made a difference on my body and mind. It allowed me to become more positive, and especially, more forgiving towards myself!

So, here are some methods that I use each day to make sure that I'm giving myself some well deserved TCL. Read them here down below!  

1. Sleep

This seems very simple, however, a lot of us forget that human minds run on sleep! When I first started college, I would work my body to the bone until 5AM and then sleep for about 3-4 hours before waking myself up again for the same torture. And this wasn't even during finals. I found myself even boasting about not sleeping that much to my own peers, as if the lack of sleep showed how hardworking or intelligent I was. Recently, I've noticed that people feel the need to overfill their own plate just to feel like they're ahead of the game or even in the game. But, to get to the point, even though my mind didn't understand that I needed sleep, my body did. So, I decided to make sure that I get 8 hours asleep. But, life is hectic, so, if I do need to stay up later, as soon as I am tired, I go immediately to bed. How can one absorb information if you're barely awake? Plus, as soon as I noticed that I don't have any hard deadlines, I definitely make sure to sleep before midnight. Why stay up later? Treat yourself to some sleep girl!

2. Positivity

I've struggled a lot with being positive to myself and my life. For some time, I just had a negative outlook on life and gave up on myself and my abilities. However, I realized that how could I ever succeed if I didn't even believe in myself? So, each day, especially when I'm faced with a difficult task, I close my eyes, breath, and tell myself that things will work out. Also, I rationalize with myself. Other ways to keep positive are to make sure you engage with others how are just as positive and think positive! You can read some more tricks here.  the end of the day, if something does not go your way, it does not mean that you won't find another way. The worse thing that could happen is that you have to try again. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

3. Make room for fun!

It's easy to get lost in the sea of work and not make any time for other activities. If you see that you have some free time in the day, don't spend it on work. That can wait. Try having lunch with friends. If the weather's nice, try spending it outside at the park. Maybe you could start a new hobby as well. Or, just spend the time being by yourself. Either way, all of these things should not incorporate work. Taking breaks does not mean you're lazy. It just shows that you know how to have fun amidst all the chaos of deadlines.

4. Ditch the Electronics 

On some days, I just shut off my phone. I close my laptop. I turn off the TV. Then, I snuggle in bed with a good book. Sometimes, I find myself stressed out my own electronics. In this day and age, every smart device comes equipped with calendars, so it's easy to not forget about work when on those devices. Additionally, the screens on our devices can keep us up at night unfortunately (read more about it here). So, when possible, I decide to shut the online world out of my head and instead drown myself in some books! My favorite genres to read are murders, mysteries, and, murder mysteries. It's fun to escape to another world for a while. Also, your eyes won't feel strained! But, if you do find yourself needing to do work, there are some apps that you can utilize that will help you with your sleep schedule and prevent you from staying up late at night. I personally love using f.lux. Check out the app here!

5. Exercise

Yup. You read that right! Now, I am no gym buff myself, however, I do think it's important to get your body moving somehow during some part of your day. I usually spend most of the day sitting. So, once I'm done with all my work, I walk all the way back home. Usually the walk is around 20-30 minutes. It may not be the treadmill, but I am moving my body. Now that the weather is getting better, I find it easier to be outside too! So, if you're not keen on going to the gym, try to find time in your day to go for a light walk. Maybe try some at home works out as well in the morning before work or school! There are some great quick work outs on YouTube, free of charge! Some people that I personally follow are blogilates (check out her fitness channel here! ) and MyLifeAsEva (check out her video here!). And, if you do decide to go to the gym, try going with some friends! It will make the transition easier and you'll find yourself itching to put on some work out clothes.

I hope these tips serve you well this Mental health Awareness Month and all the other months to come. If you find yourself needing more assistance, some of my favorite tips on self care from here and here!

Remember, it’s much harder to get things done when you're not taking care of yourself. 

Tahina Mukit is an undergraduate student at NYU studying Psychology with a minor in Studio Art. She joined Sakhi as a volunteer because she wanted to gain more insight into her own culture and be able to support South Asian Women. She loves supporting the Sakhi cause and hopes to be even more involved in the future. 

[rokusetups]

5 tricks to take full advantage of your Roku or Roku TV device

Roku is one of the most popular streaming devices in North America, and it has some cool secrets that you simply can get more out of. Roku account setup is a very easy and simple procedure. Roku is undoubtedly one among the foremost important brands in recent yearswhen it involves the streaming industry, because it has become one among the favorite players for people to ascertain all their streaming services within the same platform, in fact, both within the US and Mexico, Roku is one of the services that gives more streaming services within the same place, which is why many users prefer it over other similar platforms. Another of Roku's great successes are the Roku TVs, which are smart televisions with integrated Roku that are formed in alliance with large Smart TV manufacturers like Hisense and TCL, infact, a couple of days ago Roku announced that 7 other brands of televisions with Roku will arrive this year in Mexico.

For this reason, the time has come to speak to you about some tips or tricks to utilize your roku device to the fullest

The “magic” of the app

One of the common ways to take advantage of a Roku device is through the company's official application available for absolutely free of charge for Android and iOS users , which is that from the app you'll do many things, such as:

Organize, search and download channels from the Roku Channel Store.

Set some settings on your device like quick start.

Use the app's remote to regulate your device.

Turn off your device or television.

You've got to do is log in  with your Roku account and be connected to an equivalent WiFi network as your streaming device to access this awesome feature

Listen to the sound of TV on your headphones with the Roku app

One of the foremost interesting things about the appliance is that if you are watching television but someone within the room doesn't want to hear the tv noise because they're doing other things or simply because they already want to sleep, then you'll do the following:

Go to the app on your phone.

Activate the remote and continue the headphones icon or activate the choice "Private listening".

Plug in some headphones and you're done. during this way, the audio fromthe screen are going to be transmitted to your phone through the app and you will be ready to hear it only on your headphones.

You can do something very similar if your Roku controller features a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Send photos, videos and music to your screen

Another thing we will do with the appliance is send photos, videos and music to our television with Roku TV or to which our device is connected. For this we've to open the appliance and continue the

Photos + icon, select what we would like to transmit and voila, we will enjoy it on our television. Many people have the question

how to setup a roku account  It’s a very easy procedure and can be done by a layman also.

Change the looks

One of the foremost interesting things about Roku is that it allows you to customize the interface with different themes, to activate them you have to do the following: Go to settings. We look for the Theme option and choose the one that we just like the most. Some themes are free, while others are paid, so if you're interested in one, you'll pay together with your |along with your"> together with your PayPal account or directly with your card. We also recommend activating the featured themes, with which Roku will activate a topic counting on the season of the year or the vacation in your country.

Add hidden channels

Although the corporate has its official channel store, there are some that are private because they're in beta, or have content that violates Roku's terms to be published within the official store, such as those that have adult content.

Installing a personal channel means any problem that arises with this channel won't be solved by Roku support, so here everyone decides what they need to put in on their device.

To add a personal channel you would like a code, this code are often given by the developer or there are private channel directories for Roku on the Internet. Then you've got to log in together with your account and attend the section "Add channel with a code", enter the code and voila, the channel will appear on your device.

[kristablogs]

Customize your Android TV with these seven tips

If you've got an Android TV, you'll want to know how to use it to its full potential. (Google/)

Android TV comes installed on a growing number of televisions (from manufacturers including Sony, TCL, and Sharp), and is also available on standalone devices including the Nvidia Shield TV. It’s particularly useful if you’ve already got other Google or Android devices, but many users may have only scratched the surface of what it can do.

Dig a little deeper into the software and you’ll discover a variety of features and tricks that can make your Android TV experience more useful, more efficient, and more fun.

1. Customize Quick Settings

You won’t want to waste valuable TV-watching time working your way through menus and configuration screens, so get fast access to the Android TV settings you use most often by stocking up the Quick Settings panel.

This panel will appear at the top of the screen whenever you use the cog icon (top right) to open the settings, and you’ll be able to easily access anything you save there with just a couple taps on your remote control.

To get started, open Settings. Then pick Device Preferences, System, and Customize Quick Settings. From there, set up quick links to power off your Android TV device, restart it, show the on-screen keyboards, and more.

2. Change up your home screen

The Android TV home screen displays rows of installed apps, plus a “Play Next” row where selected apps will preview content they think you might like: the next episode of a show on Netflix, or a recommended YouTube video, for example.

You can customize all of it. Just open Settings and choose Device Preferences, followed by Home screen—you’ll be able to change the order of apps as they appear on the display and choose the apps featured in the Play Next row.

If you don’t like how some apps start playing audio and video clips as you scroll across the home screen, you can disable previews from the same menu (or enable them if that’s your thing).

3. Launch Google Assistant with your voice

You can talk to the Google Assistant on some Android TV devices (David Nield/)

Just like with your smartphone or smart speaker, you can access Google Assistant on your Android TV. Launch it via the colorful microphone icon at the top of the home screen, or simply say “OK Google” within earshot of the device.

To make sure voice activation is switched on, open Settings, then pick Device Preferences, Google Assistant, and Enable “Ok Google” detection. If it’s already on, you’ll see an option to disable the feature.

This setting isn't available on every Android TV device, so if it doesn't show up, the hardware you're using won’t ever respond to an "OK Google" voice command. You can usually launch Google Assistant from the remote instead.

4. Tap into Google Assistant

Whether the Google Assistant on your Android TV responds to your voice or not, it’ll answer all the standard Google Assistant questions. You can find out what the weather will be like tomorrow, get the latest sports scores, and run conversions or calculations, to name a few.

The Assistant comes in handy for browsing as well—it's certainly easier than tapping out searches on a remote control. Try searching for "Tom Hanks movies," "comedy shows,” or whatever it is you want to watch next. You can also specify certain movies or shows, so "Play ‘Stranger Things’" works, too.

Your Android TV assistant will also control your smart home devices, so you can, for example, dim the lights in the living room for a more theater-like experience. For this to work, you’ll need to have added your smart home devices to the Google Home app for Android or iOS and be signed into the same Google account on your phone and TV.

5. Change the screen saver

By default, you can't pull screen savers from your own Google Photos collection, but Fotoo can help you with that. (David Nield/)

Your Android TV can be useful even when you’re not actually watching anything: Open Settings, and choose Device Preferences, followed by Screen saver, to decide what your device does when it’s idle.

Among the screen saver options are a colored gradient background and the standard Chromecast backdrop, which cycles through images of landscapes, nature, and cities. You can also choose how long your Android TV will wait before starting the screen saver.

Strangely enough, you can’t use your Google Photos images as screen savers, but third-party app Fotoo fills the gap (search for it in the Play Store on your Android TV). It works with Google Photos and other services, including Dropbox, and it’s free in its basic form (a $10 upgrade will get you extras like unlimited photo skips and transition effects).

6. Use your phone as a remote

TV remote controls aren't great input devices if you need to do anything complicated. They’re really only good for nudging the channel up or down, changing the volume, and doing other basic actions.

Typing out passwords or search queries can take a tediously long time on a remote, but your phone can stand in instead. All you’ll need is the Android TV remote app for Android or iOS.

As long as your devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, the connection will be automatic. You can use the remote app to move through menus and screens, type out text, and access the Google Assistant.

7. Start Chromecasting

Every Android TV doubles as a Chromecast, and that means you can cast audio and video to it from dozens of apps on your phone or tablet—just look for the Chromecast button inside your apps (a rectangle with what looks like a Wi-Fi icon in the bottom left corner).

As long as your Android TV is on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone or tablet, the TV should pop up as one of the available Chromecast devices. You won’t need to enable or configure the device in any way.

You might find it easier to cast music from Spotify, or video from YouTube, rather than going through the apps on the Android TV device itself. Using the Chromecast method also enables you to use your phone or tablet as a remote control.

[scootoaster]

Customize your Android TV with these seven tips

If you've got an Android TV, you'll want to know how to use it to its full potential. (Google/)

Android TV comes installed on a growing number of televisions (from manufacturers including Sony, TCL, and Sharp), and is also available on standalone devices including the Nvidia Shield TV. It’s particularly useful if you’ve already got other Google or Android devices, but many users may have only scratched the surface of what it can do.

Dig a little deeper into the software and you’ll discover a variety of features and tricks that can make your Android TV experience more useful, more efficient, and more fun.

1. Customize Quick Settings

You won’t want to waste valuable TV-watching time working your way through menus and configuration screens, so get fast access to the Android TV settings you use most often by stocking up the Quick Settings panel.

This panel will appear at the top of the screen whenever you use the cog icon (top right) to open the settings, and you’ll be able to easily access anything you save there with just a couple taps on your remote control.

To get started, open Settings. Then pick Device Preferences, System, and Customize Quick Settings. From there, set up quick links to power off your Android TV device, restart it, show the on-screen keyboards, and more.

2. Change up your home screen

The Android TV home screen displays rows of installed apps, plus a “Play Next” row where selected apps will preview content they think you might like: the next episode of a show on Netflix, or a recommended YouTube video, for example.

You can customize all of it. Just open Settings and choose Device Preferences, followed by Home screen—you’ll be able to change the order of apps as they appear on the display and choose the apps featured in the Play Next row.

If you don’t like how some apps start playing audio and video clips as you scroll across the home screen, you can disable previews from the same menu (or enable them if that’s your thing).

3. Launch Google Assistant with your voice

You can talk to the Google Assistant on some Android TV devices (David Nield/)

Just like with your smartphone or smart speaker, you can access Google Assistant on your Android TV. Launch it via the colorful microphone icon at the top of the home screen, or simply say “OK Google” within earshot of the device.

To make sure voice activation is switched on, open Settings, then pick Device Preferences, Google Assistant, and Enable “Ok Google” detection. If it’s already on, you’ll see an option to disable the feature.

This setting isn't available on every Android TV device, so if it doesn't show up, the hardware you're using won’t ever respond to an "OK Google" voice command. You can usually launch Google Assistant from the remote instead.

4. Tap into Google Assistant

Whether the Google Assistant on your Android TV responds to your voice or not, it’ll answer all the standard Google Assistant questions. You can find out what the weather will be like tomorrow, get the latest sports scores, and run conversions or calculations, to name a few.

The Assistant comes in handy for browsing as well—it's certainly easier than tapping out searches on a remote control. Try searching for "Tom Hanks movies," "comedy shows,” or whatever it is you want to watch next. You can also specify certain movies or shows, so "Play ‘Stranger Things’" works, too.

Your Android TV assistant will also control your smart home devices, so you can, for example, dim the lights in the living room for a more theater-like experience. For this to work, you’ll need to have added your smart home devices to the Google Home app for Android or iOS and be signed into the same Google account on your phone and TV.

5. Change the screen saver

By default, you can't pull screen savers from your own Google Photos collection, but Fotoo can help you with that. (David Nield/)

Your Android TV can be useful even when you’re not actually watching anything: Open Settings, and choose Device Preferences, followed by Screen saver, to decide what your device does when it’s idle.

Among the screen saver options are a colored gradient background and the standard Chromecast backdrop, which cycles through images of landscapes, nature, and cities. You can also choose how long your Android TV will wait before starting the screen saver.

Strangely enough, you can’t use your Google Photos images as screen savers, but third-party app Fotoo fills the gap (search for it in the Play Store on your Android TV). It works with Google Photos and other services, including Dropbox, and it’s free in its basic form (a $10 upgrade will get you extras like unlimited photo skips and transition effects).

6. Use your phone as a remote

TV remote controls aren't great input devices if you need to do anything complicated. They’re really only good for nudging the channel up or down, changing the volume, and doing other basic actions.

Typing out passwords or search queries can take a tediously long time on a remote, but your phone can stand in instead. All you’ll need is the Android TV remote app for Android or iOS.

As long as your devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, the connection will be automatic. You can use the remote app to move through menus and screens, type out text, and access the Google Assistant.

7. Start Chromecasting

Every Android TV doubles as a Chromecast, and that means you can cast audio and video to it from dozens of apps on your phone or tablet—just look for the Chromecast button inside your apps (a rectangle with what looks like a Wi-Fi icon in the bottom left corner).

As long as your Android TV is on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone or tablet, the TV should pop up as one of the available Chromecast devices. You won’t need to enable or configure the device in any way.

You might find it easier to cast music from Spotify, or video from YouTube, rather than going through the apps on the Android TV device itself. Using the Chromecast method also enables you to use your phone or tablet as a remote control.

[goarticletec-blog]

The best Black Friday deals of 2018: The Cheapskate's picks

New Post has been published on https://www.articletec.com/the-best-black-friday-deals-of-2018-the-cheapskates-picks-4/

The best Black Friday deals of 2018: The Cheapskate's picks

Sarah Tew/CNET

Free iPhone, anyone? That’s just one of the pretty damn sweet deals lined up ahead of Black Friday, which kicks off just a few days from now (Nov. 23, if you’re bad at calendaring). 

As always, I spend my time looking for the best of the best, the cream of the cheap crop. Sleep? I’ll sleep when I’m dead! Right through midnight on Friday, I’ll continue to serve up my favorite Black Friday deals of 2018.

To clarify, these are my favorite deals so far. Because we’re still a few days away from the big day (this was last updated Nov. 21), there may be late-breaking additions — so be sure to bookmark this post and check back often. 

Also, note that unless otherwise specified, all deals listed here will be available starting Nov. 23. CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page. 

The Cheapskate’s favorite Black Friday 2018 deals

Apple Watch Series 3: $199 (save $80)

Screenshot by Alina Bradford/CNET

Macy’s decided not to wait for Black Friday or even Thanksgiving. The Apple Watch Series 3 is available right now for this all-time-low price. Yes, it’s last year’s model, but there’s an awful lot of tech packed into this thing, which is why at $199 I have no qualms about recommending it.

See at Macy’s

Apple Watch Series 3 review

iPhone XR: Free! (Save $750)

Angela Lang/CNET

OK, make that “free*.” The asterisk is because you have to sign up for a US Cellular unlimited plan and stick with it for 30 months. The iPhone XR is paid for during that time in the form of bill credit. Still, you’re going to be paying for service from some carrier, right? When all is said and done, you will indeed walk away with a $750 phone you paid not an extra penny for. The deal is live right now and runs through Nov. 26.

See at US Cellular

iPhone XR review

3 months of Mint Mobile for $20 (save $40)

Mint Mobile

Shopping for a new carrier? On Black Friday and Cyber Monday, prepay-and-save service Mint Mobile will have one of the best trial offers ever: 3 months for $20. That nets you unlimited minutes and messages and 5GB of LTE data (on T-Mobile’s network) per month. After that, you can choose between various 3-, 6- and 12-month plans, all of which amortize out to extremely low rates.

See at Mint Mobile

Two Amazon Echo second-gen smart speakers: $100 (save $100)

QVC

Sure, Amazon will be selling the Echo for $69 on Turkey Day, but this QVC deal is even better. Score two of the smart speakers for just $99.98, a price that includes a voucher for extras like three months of Pandora Premium and three months of FreeTime Unlimited. Update, Nov. 20: The price now shows $109.98, but if you’re a new QVC customer, promo code TEN4U takes $10 off.

See at QVC

Echo review

Sphero BB-8 app-enabled droid: $30 (save $100)

Sphero

For anyone who loved the idea of an app-controlled BB-8 but didn’t relish paying $130, your patience has paid off. Sphero’s cute, versatile little roller has never been priced this low. Just sign in to My Best Buy to see this lower price.

See at Best Buy

Sphero BB-8 hands-on

Amazon Echo Dot (third-generation): $24 (save $26)

Ry Crist/CNET

There are plenty of standouts in Amazon’s roster of Black Friday deals, but for me the real standout is the just-released third-generation Echo Dot. Given that it’s brand-new, Amazon could easily have left it at $50, or even just lopped $10 off while selling last year’s model for the bigger discount. (As it happens, the second-gen Dot will be $4 less!) But just $24 for the smart speaker with the cloth suit and bigger, better sound? Yes, please. And don’t expect to see this deal again until Prime Day 2019.

See at Amazon

Echo Dot review

Huawei Honor View 10: $349 (save $150)

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Normally $500, and never before priced below $429, this powerhouse metal phablet features a 6-inch screen, dual rear cameras, dual SIM slots, Android 8.1 and — wait for it — a headphone jack! Just make sure you’re not buying this phone for someone who’s a US government employee or contractor, as federal security agencies have effectively deemed Huawei to be a national security threat.

See at Amazon

Honor View 10 review

Apple iPad (2018): $250 (save $80)

Sarah Tew/CNET

Wait, how is this better than Amazon’s Fire HD 10 for $100? Because, let’s face it, the iPad is an all-around better tablet, and at $250 it’s actually reasonable.

See at Target

iPad 2018 review

PlayStation 4 1TB with Spider-Man bundle: $200 (save $100)

Insomniac Games

My spendy senses are tingling. Update, Nov. 22, 3:30 p.m. PT: Target and a few other stores decided not to wait for Black Friday, so this deal is sold out everywhere we can see online. It’s sold out quickly, with good reason: It’s an excellent deal on a great console bundled with one of the hottest games of 2018. Target is still showing as “available” in select stores, hit the link below to check your own nearby brick and mortar.

Pro tip: If you’re willing to brave the lines at Kohl’s, you can get this same deal on the PS4 bundle, plus $60 in Kohl’s cash.

See at Target

PlayStation 4 review

TCL 55-inch Roku TV: $350 (save $100)

Sarah Tew/CNET

On sale at Amazon, Target and Walmart for the same price, and available right now, this may be the 55-inch TV deal to beat this year. You get a big screen, the unparalleled Roku interface and picture quality that belies this bargain-basement price.

See at Amazon

TCL S405 review

Ring Video Doorbell 2: $139 (save $60)

Chris Monroe/CNET

Wireless and equipped with a rechargeable battery, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 is among the easiest video doorbells to install and keep charged. It also integrates nicely with the Amazon Echo Show for an at-a-glance view of who’s at your door. At $199 it’s not exactly Cheapskate-approved, but $139 is definitely more in the ballpark. The optional $3-a-month cloud storage fee is reasonable, too.

See at Ring

Ring Doorbell 2 review

Art.com: Save 50 percent sitewide

Art.com

Need to dress up some walls? On Nov. 23 only, you can score 50 percent off all purchases at both Art.com. Looking for something a little more casual? On Nov. 24, AllPosters will be offering up to 60 percent off sitewide.

See at Art.com

The Instant Pot six-in-one cooker: $60 (save $40)

There’s no question that every kitchen should have a pressure cooker. The Instant Pot is also a slow cooker and four other kinds of cooker. This same deal ($60 instead of $100) tends to come around annually, but that doesn’t make it any less appetizing. If you don’t own one yet or you need a killer gift for a foodie, now’s the time to buy.

See at Walmart

5 reasons you should own an Instant Pot

Motorola Moto G6: $200 (save $50)

Josh Miller/CNET

Already a steal at the regular $250 price, the G6 gets even steal-ier when you knock $50 off. It’s unlocked, so take it to whatever carrier has the best deal — or best coverage.

See at Best Buy

Moto G6 review

HP Pavilion X360 with Intel Core i7 and 1TB hard drive: $450 ($350 off)

HP

Wowza, Office Depot! You’ve undercut just about everybody on this 15.6-inch two-in-one powerhouse. This is one of the best laptop deals of 2018, bar none.

See at Office Depot

HP Pavilion X360 review

That’s it for now! But as noted earlier, check back for new stuff as Black Friday draws closer.

Now playing: Watch this: Tricks to score extra savings on Black Friday and Cyber…

2:06

Read more: CNET’s complete guide to Black Friday 2018

Read more: CNET’s Holiday Gift Guide 2018

Get the best deals from The Cheapskate in your inbox

CNET’s Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Note that CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the Cheapskate on Facebook and Twitter!

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[kansascityhappenings]

TCL’s Roku TV offers good mix of streaming, local channels

A new TV from TCL features Roku’s famous streaming software along with the ability to connect an antenna for local channels.

Follow KTLA Tech Reporter Rich DeMuro on Facebook or Twitter for cool apps, tech tricks & tips!

Looking for information on the giveaway? Check here!

One of the most popular questions I’m getting these days has to do with cord cutting. People want to cut the cord but don’t want to lose local programming like their favorite news channels and sports.

Now, with new TV’s from TCL, you don’t have to sacrifice much. They showed me two new models – the P and C series – that combine the latest features, streaming apps and an antenna input for local channels.

The best part is that you don’t need to switch inputs to go from a local, over the air channel, to a streaming service like HBO. Everything is on one screen. Keep in mind, while you can pause live TV for up to 90 minutes if you plug in a flash drive, you cannot record shows like a DVR.

“We don’t believe that people come home and say ‘Hey, I want to watch HDMI 1.’ People come home and they want to watch HBO or they want to watch their local news. That should be on the same level to us,” explained Chris Larson, Senior Vice President, TCL North America.

Roku is a pioneer in streaming media – they offered one of the earliest set top streaming boxes. They have pretty much every app covered – Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Sling, DIRECTV NOW, Starz and more. I also like their universal search function so you can find where items are streaming across many of your apps.

Another neat feature is the remote control. There is quick, one button access to Netflix, Sling, Hulu and Starz, but also a headphone jack. This lets you listen to your on-screen content with headphones so you don’t disturb someone in another room, like sleeping kids or a spouse.

This isn’t the first Roku TV from TCL – they’ve made them for a few years now. This year’s models include better picture quality with the addition of HDR technology. They support both Dolby Vision and generic HDR.

“The picture quality is second to none. When you look at our televisions compared to our competitors, you will find tremendous value without sacrificing performance,” said Larson.

If you’re wondering about TCL, they are relatively new to the United States, but they are a huge electronics giant based out of China, where they have been operating for decades.

“We make everything from the panel, to the backlight to the module to the finished product. It allows us not only speed to market by developing all the way through, but cost advantages that our competitors can’t match,” concluded Larson.

Learn more:

TCL 55″ P-Series 4K Roku Smart TV

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports http://fox4kc.com/2017/08/23/tcls-roku-tv-offers-good-mix-of-streaming-local-channels/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2017/08/23/tcls-roku-tv-offers-good-mix-of-streaming-local-channels/

[goarticletec-blog]

The best Black Friday deals of 2018: The Cheapskate's picks

New Post has been published on https://www.articletec.com/the-best-black-friday-deals-of-2018-the-cheapskates-picks-3/

The best Black Friday deals of 2018: The Cheapskate's picks

Sarah Tew/CNET

Perhaps you’ve heard? Black Friday is coming, and even this jaded Cheapskate must admit there are some exciting deals lined up for Nov. 23.

Looking for the best of the best? The cream of the cheap crop? I’ve sifted through all the ads, press releases and secret notes passed to me in the lunchroom to bring you these, my favorite Black Friday deals of 2018.

To clarify, these are my favorite deals so far. Because we’re still a little over a week out from the big day, there may be late-breaking additions — so be sure to bookmark this post and check back often (last updated Nov. 13). 

Also, note that unless otherwise specified, all deals listed here will be available starting Nov. 23. CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page. 

The Cheapskate’s favorite Black Friday 2018 deals

3 months of Mint Mobile for $20 (save $40)

Mint Mobile

Shopping for a new carrier? On Black Friday and Cyber Monday, prepay-and-save service Mint Mobile will have one of the best trial offers ever: 3 months for $20. That nets you unlimited minutes and messages and 5GB of LTE data (on T-Mobile’s network) per month. After that, you can choose between various 3-, 6- and 12-month plans, all of which amortize out to extremely low rates.

See at Mint Mobile

Two Amazon Echo second-gen smart speakers: $100 (save $100)

QVC

Sure, Amazon will be selling the Echo for $69 on Turkey Day, but this QVC deal is even better. Score two of the smart speakers for just $99.98, a price that includes a voucher for extras like three months of Pandora Premium and three months of FreeTime Unlimited.

See at QVC

Echo review

Sphero BB-8 app-enabled droid: $30 (save $100)

Sphero

For anyone who loved the idea of an app-controlled BB-8 but didn’t relish paying $130, your patience has paid off. Sphero’s cute, versatile little roller has never been priced this low. Just sign in to My Best Buy to see this lower price.

See at Best Buy

Sphero BB-8 hands-on

Amazon Echo Dot (third-generation): $24 (save $26)

Ry Crist/CNET

There are plenty of standouts in Amazon’s roster of Black Friday deals, but for me the real standout is the just-released third-generation Echo Dot. Given that it’s brand-new, Amazon could easily have left it at $50, or even just lopped $10 off while selling last year’s model for the bigger discount. (As it happens, the second-gen Dot will be $4 less!) But just $24 for the smart speaker with the cloth suit and bigger, better sound? Yes, please. And don’t expect to see this deal again until Prime Day 2019.

See at Amazon

Echo Dot review

Huawei Honor View 10: $349 (save $150)

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Normally $500, and never before priced below $429, this powerhouse metal phablet features a 6-inch screen, dual rear cameras, dual SIM slots, Android 8.1 and — wait for it — a headphone jack! Just make sure you’re not buying this phone for someone who’s a US government employee or contractor, as federal security agencies have effectively deemed Huawei to be a national security threat.

See at Amazon

Honor View 10 review

Apple iPad (2018): $250 (save $80)

Sarah Tew/CNET

Wait, how is this better than Amazon’s Fire HD 10 for $100? Because, let’s face it, the iPad is an all-around better tablet, and at $250 it’s actually reasonable.

See at Target

iPad 2018 review

PlayStation 4 1TB with Spider-Man bundle: $200 (save $100)

Insomniac Games

My spendy senses are tingling. Target and a few other stores decided not to wait for Black Friday, so this deal is running now. And it’s selling out quickly, with good reason: It’s an excellent deal on a great console bundled with one of the hottest games of 2018. Pro tip: If you’re willing to brave the lines at Kohl’s, you can get this same deal on the PS4 bundle, plus $60 in Kohl’s cash.

See at Target

PlayStation 4 review

TCL 55-inch Roku TV: $350 (save $100)

Sarah Tew/CNET

On sale at Amazon, Target and Walmart for the same price, and available right now, this may be the 55-inch TV deal to beat this year. You get a big screen, the unparalleled Roku interface and picture quality that belies this bargain-basement price.

See at Amazon

TCL S405 review

Ring Video Doorbell 2: $139 (save $60)

Chris Monroe/CNET

Wireless and equipped with a rechargeable battery, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 is among the easiest video doorbells to install and keep charged. It also integrates nicely with the Amazon Echo Show for an at-a-glance view of who’s at your door. At $199 it’s not exactly Cheapskate-approved, but $139 is definitely more in the ballpark. The optional $3-a-month cloud storage fee is reasonable, too.

See at Ring

Ring Doorbell 2 review

Art.com: Save 50 percent sitewide

Art.com

Need to dress up some walls? On Nov. 23 only, you can score 50 percent off all purchases at both Art.com. Looking for something a little more casual? On Nov. 24, AllPosters will be offering up to 60 percent off sitewide.

See at Art.com

The Instant Pot six-in-one cooker: $60 (save $40)

There’s no question that every kitchen should have a pressure cooker. The Instant Pot is also a slow cooker and four other kinds of cooker. This same deal ($60 instead of $100) tends to come around annually, but that doesn’t make it any less appetizing. If you don’t own one yet or you need a killer gift for a foodie, now’s the time to buy.

See at Walmart

5 reasons you should own an Instant Pot

Motorola Moto G6: $200 (save $50)

Josh Miller/CNET

Already a steal at the regular $250 price, the G6 gets even steal-ier when you knock $50 off. It’s unlocked, so take it to whatever carrier has the best deal — or best coverage.

See at Best Buy

Moto G6 review

HP Pavilion X360 with Intel Core i7 and 1TB hard drive: $450 ($350 off)

HP

Wowza, Office Depot! You’ve undercut just about everybody on this 15.6-inch two-in-one powerhouse. This is one of the best laptop deals of 2018, bar none.

See at Office Depot

HP Pavilion X360 review

That’s it for now! But as noted earlier, check back for new stuff as Black Friday draws closer.

Now playing: Watch this: Tricks to score extra savings on Black Friday and Cyber…

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Read more: CNET’s complete guide to Black Friday 2018

Read more: CNET’s Holiday Gift Guide 2018

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CNET’s Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Note that CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the Cheapskate on Facebook and Twitter!

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